a happy place

It should come as no surprise that the girls and I were down in the Keys again.

The weather was fabulous, which means of course that it was way too cold for water activities (for me) but we had a lovely time at Pennekamp and all around the local attractions there.

I have no idea who these people are....surely they can't be mine, mine are little, no?

Laughing whilst waiting for the branch to break. 

eeewww, that water looks disgusting

I think it might have been a bit cold for someone as she far behind her sister

they swam back to the beach whilst I walked back staying warmish and dry

So amny photos on this spot but we found out on Sunday its been sold...wahhhhh

Love Pennekamp, cannot wait to return.

take your child to work day

Thursday was take your child to work day. Since Andie was here and the big one is home schooled I decided that I wasn't working and we should seek adventure. So we did.

Rosie had mentioned going kayaking with Annie for her birthday and I was on board with it. Since we all love Pennekamp that is where we headed again. I wasn't sure if Annie had kayaked but she is very fit and it's not like kayaking is difficult, fortunately she had. (and she showed up her prowess ~not so much)

Rosie, apparently, was convinced she needed a lot of mossie protection, especially on her right side.

heading out, Rosie up front and doing well

these two.....they make me happy the way they carry on

things we still going well.

all smiles and still dry

egads this is a dreadful picture

We had kayaked the long trail and it was such a glorious day that we decided to carry on for a bit and head to the kayak beach where we would get out. The above photos were us there. We chatted had a drink laughed etc and then, THEN it was time to carry on. Rosie and I got in first and then Annie went to get in but.................she capsized the kayak and went straight in the drink. Rosie was in uncontrollable fits of laughter, she couldn't stop. I suddenly remembered to grab the camera and Lily just appeared shell shocked that anyone could fall out of a kayak while getting in. It was a classic moment.

we all stood in the water watching this fish and then after it left we decided to do the same

and that's when it all went wrong...for one

I didn't catch her going in but this is her getting out

soaked and laughing so hard

oh my goodness

almost back to dry land...almost. thankfully someone was there to lend a helping hand.
It took a little explaining as to why, when the kayak was capsized that only one occupant was drenched. 

We couldn't possibly just leave so we spent a lovely afternoon wandering and seeing.

The mermaid of Copenhagen...well not quite

this is a new piece of signage and not a welcome one

Andrea, AKA, cousin Andie or Annie or Cousin Annie

Shut the front door! What is this, I'm sure he eats people.

Before leaving Key Largo we stopped Shell World.

It was a wonderful day and a birthday that I know Rosie will cherish.

tranquilty

When asked how they wanted to wrap up Spring Break the made a unanimous decision on the spot, they wanted to go to PenneKamp. PenneKamp is one of my most favourite days out, without question.

All they wanted was time in a kayak and so that was what they got. We have been allowing Rosie to take over the paddles more and more and on Friday she proved herself as competent, not that I would let her go it alone yet, even Lily cannot do that.

It was quite windy all day and I wasn't sure if we should do it or not but a quick chat with the people that count and they told us to hug the shoreline once we hit the open waters of the Atlantic and we would be fine but if we didn't............... good luck. Rosies face when she hears that was priceless, the child worries incessantly.

Once we were all aboard everything went off without a hitch and we beat all previous speed records. It had something to do with the speed in which we paddled the open waters of the Atlantic. Without saying a word Lily and I both knew it was make or break time and we just went for it. As she is getting older we tend to have this unspoken connection and it is fabulous. (any time you can get Lily to use NO words is always fabulous. LOL )

My fashionista getting ready to go, A bikini with socks. 

Easter weekend and the only road down to the Keys was sailing along!

Not sure why they give you a map, the ocean is not marked and mangroves are not easily signposted.

In perfect sync

Ditto. so long as Rosie calls the speed, much like a metronome she does well

hello

Rosie doing all the work

heading back into Pennekamp

After kayaking we spent time just enjoying the park, no one is ever in a hurry to leave and it doesn't matter how busy it seems judging by the car park we always find it nice and quiet

I have no idea what kind of bird this is, He was bright yellow. Since a big camera and a kayak don't mix I had to make do with my phone

pretty

dead

This woodpecker was hard to get a photo with my phone!

Always with the goggles

Only you could make glasses and braces look SO good. 

barely a splash

the ponytail....snicker

trying for a bigger splash.

rinsing off

child detests sandy feet

and will spend 10 minutes cleaning them, obsessively

they have 100s of these. I wonder how many go out at one time

No, we didn't see this outside, this is in an aquarium

My Super Hero running willy nilly through the woods with her cape.

And just like that, Spring break ended and that was a week ago cos I suck at blogging.

beach bums

If you follow me on Facebook you know that my seester arrived yesterday. To say that we are happy might just be a little understated. Her and Andy are some of my most favourite peeps and having them here is wonderful.

Today we woke up late and convinced Andy to take a breath and kick back which is not an easy task. We finally left the house at 10 ish and headed to the Florida Keys, exact destination Pennekamp.

The girls wanted to kayak, I wanted to hang out with my sis, Andy wanted to do everything and we ended up all doing different things. Sally and Andy went on a glass bottom boat ride and the girls and I passed on the Kayaks due to an extremely rough tide. We had a lovely lunch, played on the beach, the girls snorkeled and we went for a walk. Much later in the afternoon Sally and Andy went on their boat ride and the girls and I went off an some adventures.

My Seester

Rosie got her first snorkel and mask today.

Silly geese

Snorkeling fool

So many Ibis would hang out right here. Every time we walked passed one would be in the bath.

So many buzzards. I love their flight patterns

lookout point

We walked for a while and discovered another beach. The girls collected sea pods and right before my eyes Lily and Andy started swashbuckling with the pods and it was hilarious.

utter madness

penny for your thoughts

Sea Foam

more foaminess

the glass bottom boat

we had such a lovely day. all days with my seester and Andy are lovely but this time is extremely special and much needed.